Kensington

By Sara Stefanini | Special to amNewYork

April 5, 2007

Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood is only just being discovered. A small, quiet community sandwiched between more popular neighborhoods of Windsor Terrace and Prospect Heights, Kensington is one of the most diverse corners of New York.

Residents include immigrants from all over the world--from Pakistan to China to the Middle East--as well as artists who have been priced out of lower Manhattan and Williamsburg.

"What don't I like about Kensington?" asked Kati Duncan, who moved there eight years ago from Wisconsin. "I felt right at home as soon as I got here. There are all sorts of people; it's very diverse. I also like its old character. It hasn't been gentrified, and people who live here have been here a long time."

Still, though residents appreciate the neighborhood's peaceful atmosphere and proximity to parks and gardens such as Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery, many agree Kensington is lacking in services and establishments.

"As far as businesses go, there's not much," said Duncan, noting the need for more coffee shops and bars. "I feel businesses haven't kept up with the change."

Several community groups have started to push for those changes, though cautiously, for fear of disrupting the neighborhood's charm.

For instance, a community-supported agriculture program is expected to begin this summer, said Gina Duclayan. The program would create a partnership between Kensington and a farmer in Long Island. Residents who sign up would pay an upfront fee of $450 for shares in the farmer's produce, and have pickups every week in Kensington's East 4th Street Community Garden.

"We have some good vegetable markets, but it's hard to find organic produce in the neighborhood," Duclayan said. "This supports a local farmer and it's a way to bring the community together when we have pickups."

The Basics

Find it
Kensington is bordered by Green-Wood Cemetery and Caton Avenue to the north, Prospect Park to the northeast, Coney Island Avenue to the east, Foster Avenue and 47th Street to the south and Dahill Road and 36th Street to the west.

Q&A
Jennifer Gagnon, a teacher, moved to Kensington three years ago, and has since become involved in trying to bring more business into the neighborhood and enhancing what it has to offer. She maintains a blog about Kensington, at KensingtonBrooklyn.blogspot.com, where residents discuss local issues, from robberies to construction to town hall meetings.

Why did you decide to move to Kensington?

My husband and I were attracted to the neighborhood because it's really affordable, but its also very diverse and beautiful, with tree-lined streets, and it's one of the last affordable neighborhoods that's also very safe. And we liked how diverse it is. There's Russians, Asians, Mexicans, Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis.

What do you most like about the neighborhood?

Kensington is really a hidden gem in Brooklyn. We love going to Prospect Park; it's so close. Kensington hasn't been gentrified or taken over yet, but it's also very close to everything, and it's so safe and friendly. It's a very up-and-coming place.

What types of people are moving to the neighborhood?

There are a lot of struggling artists moving in. In my friendships I've developed in the neighborhood, I've met a documentary filmmaker, a puppeteer, teachers. A lot is changing in the neighborhood as new people are moving in, but people are also very focused on keeping its character alive.

What don't you like about Kensington?